When Formula 1 Engines Revved to 20 000 RPM!

Listen to this.

The V10 era of Formula 1 produced the best engines the world has ever seen.

They are raw, powerful, revvy and (in my opinion) the best-sounding engines ever.

But how on earth did they make them able to reach over 19 THOUSAND RPM? And why are they not in the current F1 CARS? Well, let me explain.

The V10 era started in 1986 with the 3.5-litre unit built by Alfa Romeo - but really started finding success in 1989 with Renault.

At the time, the engine regulations were pretty free, with one key rule keeping them in check.

The overall engine capacity could not be more than 3.5 litres, and turbos were banned.

So with the rules being free, the engine manufacturers each landed on pretty different designs. With V8s, V10s and V12s all on the grid.

And at one point, they even had a W12 (but it kinda sucked, never actually qualifying for a race)

Ford, at the time, swore by a V8 for its simplicity and relative fuel economy.

Whereas Ferrari stuck to a V12, with complexity and cost not really being an issue for them, they aimed at maximum power.

(And you can see why they chose those by looking at their road cars at the time)

[Shot of 1990 Mustang, and a Ferrari 348]

Renault were the first to really make waves with the V10 - where they started to create significantly more power than the V8s and the V10s.

But why? They were all 3.5 litre, naturally aspirated engines? How were they creating more power?

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[TheNecromancer]

They actually reached the end of the line... at around 21.000 rpm the Flame isn't fast enough to keep delivering more Power with more revs, cause the pressure raise starts being slower then the gas cycle in the piston. The work cycles is so Short, it has no time to burn through or expand.

[Erik_The_Viking]

The V10 era was the best era. That glorious sound.

[Astfgl]

When my father and I first visited an F1 race at the Nürburgring in 2004, the sound of those V10 shocked us immensely. It's hard to describe in words, those things SCREAMED like nothing I had ever heard before. First thing we did when we got back that day was buy some earplugs because my god, you needed those. The V8 engines introduced a few years after still sounded great, but it was already a huge step down from the V10's.

[ManuR-lm]

That sound gives me instand flashbacks to me as a ~10 year old kid sitting in front of the TV together with my dad. Great times!

[stuartsrollingshutter]

I feel so sorry that newer fans never got to experience this live - Yes, you couldn't hear for a week afterwards but it was worth it

[EleanorPeterson]

This ageing petrolhead is very grateful that she was able to witness Group-B rallying and the F1 V-10 era in person. Both were phenomenal.

[LuisTrey]

That sound is unbeatable! V10 Formula 1 cars will always be THE SOUND of the sport.

[geniferteal]

It was crazy engineering like this and the sound that got me interested in the sport in the first place. Makes me wonder why I'm still a fan.

[baron_von_noob]

I've been to three GP's in this era, 1 in Spa and 2 in Hockenheim. The V10 sound goes through the ground and right through your body. Beholding a GP start then was an absolute assault on the senses. Best F1 engines ever.

[TMJ]

F1 is still living off the V10 era. Anyone who witnessed it became instantly hooked and we still watch F1 today, get others into it, get our kids into it, all because of this era. There's no way the V6 era or even the V8 era could ever inspire the same kind of passion the V10 cars did.

[vldy]

I was at Monza in 2003, I was 10 at the time, we had "seats" (actually just standing in the grass) at the straight before the parabolica, I don't remember too much about the race but the sound... oh boy that was completely insane.

[ATLCane]

I’ll never forget in Indy 2003 hearing the V10s for the first time. My God I was speechless. My jaw hit the floor. The kind of sound you can feel in your soul. The only thing that can rival that sound is a fighter jet

[willvm]

I was lucky enough to hear them once in 2005. Every time a session started you could hear them from the other side of the circuit and all I could think was that the drivers were brave to be trying to tame these beasts. The hairs on the back of my neck would stand on end.

[OfficiallySnek]

When Formula 1 engines revved to 20, 000 rpm? Back when times where better

[SSLS]

All around great video. The V10's remain the pinnacle of engine's IMO. Small correction, F1 never had a limit of 17, 000 rpm. It's funny how the FIA strayed from V10s because of "cost" as they claim, but the complex power units of today are far more expensive. Unfortunately 3.0L V10s can never be as efficient as the today's hybrid engines.

[zildog]

I grew up with F1 in the early 80's and haven't missed a single race since 1984. To this day, the V10 still blows my senses through the roof and Montoya's lap of Monza makes for one hell of a ringtone.

There's some old media that Renault released as a soundtrack and also a long form video on VHS of the factory developing their V10 back in the early 90's, around 1993~94 I believe. My mate had a copy back then but I can't seem to find it ANYWHERE now except for random clips of the intakes inhaling fuel and wailing their guts out but if you can find it, I swear it will blow your head clean off.

A huge piece of F1 died inside when they phased them out for V8's and then finally with the lawnmowers.

[recoilrob]

Back in the '60's Honda wanted to see if rpm could outrun the flame speed at very high revs. This CAN happen which then needs more timing advance but if the cylinder plumbing is made correctly the VE will increase as the rpm's come up and not need more timing. I think they hit 24, 000 and the flame front was still accelerating with the engine speed.

[AndyS-kvjh]

I remember sitting on the main straight at IMS for the USGP and the sound echoed because the tall grandstands on one side and the garages and more grandstands on the other side. The sound of 20-22 starting the race was GLORIOUS!

[Wizzkidwas]

even through a TV, the V10s had such a powerful roar that you just instantly knew they were the best of the best

[mariodrv]

They killed F1 with this over-regulation for me.